Tent



Dec. 23, 1958 D. B. CRAFTS 2,865,385

TENT Filed July 19, 1956 \NVENTOR D. B. CRAFTS United States Patent TENTDermont B. Crafts, Auburn, Maine Application July 19, 1956, Serial No.598,937

4 Claims. (Cl. 135-1) This invention relates to enclosures of variouskinds and materials, and useful for many purposes, including theprovision of an isolated area in which objects and persons may becontained or housed for privacy, shelter or for other reasons.

The invention relates more particularly to an enclosure capable of beingreadily erected and occupied either on a temporary or an extended basisand which is composed primarily of sheet material, such as canvas, duck,or other substance, sustained by frame structure or the like.

Various types of enclosures heretofore produced have been subject tocriticism for numerous reasons, including that they were toocomplicated, cumbersome, and expensive, required too much time andelfort to manufacture, erect, and dismantle, and also were notsatisfactory for other reasons.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the criticisms aboveenumerated and to provide a simple and inexpensive tent which can bereadily and inexpensively manufactured, easily and quickly erectedeither indoors or outdoors, and without the necessity for driving stakesor the performance of other laborious operations which are bothdiflicult and time consuming.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible tent whichcan be carried collapsed, although at such times the parts aresubstantially in completely assembled condition so that they may bereadily expanded and set up in any desired location, with minimum effortand expense.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tent of relatively thin,flexible sheet material with multiple sides and an upper substantiallyhorizontal tubular portion in which is received a ridge pole which inturn is supported by a spring central supporting coil, the upper end ofwhich is attached to a connector for a series of poles the lower ends ofwhich rest in pockets in the sheet material at the base corners of thetent.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is an elevation viewed from one corner of a tent illustrating oneapplication of the invention;

Fig. 2, a vertical section;

Fig. 3, a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 4, a perspective of a tent collapsed and folded for storage ortransportation;

Fig. 5, a perspective of the upper tips of the poles and the springmechanisms for holding the same; and

Fig. 6, an elevation of a modified tent panel.

Briefly stated, the invention comprises a tent of pyramidal shape havinga pair of walls or side sections each corresponding to an isoscelestriangle with its top removed, which side sections are joined at one endby a section in the form of an isosceles triangle and at the other endby a pair of overlapping flaps generally similar to such triangle. Ateach of the corners the upper portions of the two side sections areprovided with a sleeve 2,865,385 Patented Dec. 23, 1958 ice in which aridge pole or reinforcing rod is adapted to be disposed for maintainingsuch sleeve in extended hori zontal position. The ridge pole and wallsections attached thereto are suspended by a loop attached to the lowerend of a spring coil, the upper end of which spring coil is attached toa connector by which the upper ends of the tent poles are joined, saidtent poles having their lower ends disposed in pockets in the lowercorners of the two side sections of the flexible sheet material of whichthe tent is fabricated. The lower edges of the side sections are hemmedand with the pockets reinforce the sheet material at the sides of thetent. If desired, loops may be attached at the lower corners of the tentand intermediate such corners, and such loops may be anchored in anydesired manner. The diametrically opposite or diagonal tent poles areconnected by means of springs which tend to maintain the lower ends ofsuch diagonal poles in spaced relation. In the present construction theside walls of the tent are inclined and converge at the top or peak in asubstantially straight horizontal line and a sleeve is provided in whicha stiffening member or ridge pole is adapted to be disposed supportedfrom its central portion by a loop or strap. Instead of a single ridgepole, a pair of horizontal ridge poles may be employed one at rightangles to and across the center of the other, thus providing asubstantially larger top defining a substantially generally horizontalsquare ceiling or roof instead of relatively narrow head room along theridge pole and in a substantially straight line where the upper sides ofthe tent converge. If desired, the tent may have a floor of any desiredcharacter.

With further reference to the drawing, the tent of the present inventionis composed of panels 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 which form the two sidewalls or sections, the rear or end wall or sections, and the two frontend walls or sections which include the two flaps, respectively. Each ofthe side panels 10 and 11 corresponds to an isosceles triangle with itstop removed, while the rear or end panel 12 is in the form of anisosceles triangle, the flaps 13 and 14 jointly also forming such atriangle.

The several panels are connected in any desired manner, as for exampleby sewing and, likewise, the bottom edges are provided with hems toreinforce the same. Each of the side panels 10 and 11 is provided at itslower corners with reinforcing flaps 15, 16, 17 and 18 which not onlyreinforce the corners but provide pockets in which tent poles, composedof sections 19, 20, 21, may have their lower ends received, four of suchpoles being employed. Sections 19, 20, 21 of the poles are connected bymeans of coupling sleeves 22, preferably carried on the lower ends ofthe sections 19 and 20, and being tightly fitted on such sections sothat water cannot run by gravity into such couplings, such couplings orsleeves fitting snugly over the upper end portions of the next lowersection so that the tent poles therefore may be dismantled and packagedfor storage or shipment.

The upper ends of the tent poles converge and each is provided with anopening 23 through which a connector 24 in the form of a rope or otherflexible member is inserted and tied to maintain the upper ends of thetent poles in close relation but permitting relative movement betweenthe same.

The tent poles are disposed exteriorly of the sheet material which formsthepanels 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, which constitute the tent. While it isdesirable to retain the upper ends of the tent poles in convergingrelation, it is also desirable to maintain the lower ends of the same aswidely separated as possible so that stakes are unnecessary, and inorder to accomplih this a series of spring members are provided, eachcomprising a coil 25 and a pair of arms 26 and with lateral poleengaging yokes 27 at opposite ends of the spring. Due to the coil 25,the yokes 27 of the spring engage diametrically opposite poles and urgethem apart.

The upper straight edges of the side panels and 11 are sewn together .orotherwise joined and are provided with reinforcing herns '10, the otherside panels .being similarlyhemmed. The side panelsare joined by asleeve portion 28 anda centrally encircling loop 29, a ridge pole30being adapted to .beinserteddn thesleeve portion 28 for rigidity, theupper portionofthe tent being. supported by means of the encirclingloop.29 which in turnis attached by means of a spring 31 with theconnector 24 which joins the upper-ends of the poles.

Thus a tent ofpyramidal shape is provided without obstructions withinthe same, such tent being able to rest on a surface whether it be withina building or exteriorlytthereof. The tent may .be anchored. inpositionin any. desired manner and .for this purposea series ofloops32.are locatedalong the edges of the panelsinanyndesired position, asfor example,.at the corners and midway therebetween. If it is desiredtoanchor thetent in,place, this may be done by fastening the loops eithertemporarily or permanently to the-surface on which the tent is supportedor by merely placing weights thereon.

Instead of a tent in which side panels are joinedin a substantiallystraight line along the top, .a .ridge pole 33 may beappliedtransversely of the first, with such ridge pole located beneaththe first and suspended by means of the spring connector 31 and a secondspring connector 34 thereby increasing the head room within the tent. Inorder to limit separation of the tent poles at each side of the openingin the front of thetent, one or both of cords 35 and 36 may be employed.Also, where a second ridge pole 33 is employed, the sides '10 .and Y11need additional fullness of material and, consequently, instead of thesesides a side 37 may be employed having an intermediate fold 38 which maybe brought into use by the release of fastening means, such as forexample, an interlacing fastener, the cooperating halves ofwhich areattached to the panel 37 in such a manner that when the fastener isreleased the fold is brought into use. The tent panels may be providedwith ties 39 which are adapted to be fastened to the polesfor;supporting.such panels andmaintaining them in their outermostpositions.

.From the foregoing it will be apparent that a tent is provided which issusceptible ofwide use, is relatively simple and inexpensive, can bequickly erected and dismantled, as well as folded in a small bundle forstorage and transportation.

It-willbe obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the invention without de- 4 parting from the spirit and scopethereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which isillustrated in the drawing and described in the specification but onlyas indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A tent comprising a series of connected panels of sheet materialtapered in width from bottom to top and forming an enclosure, a standincluding substantially straight tent poles adapted to:be set up withtheir lower ends apart and their upper ends converging for supportingsaid panels, resilient arms connecting the upper ends of said'polesexteriorly of said panels, said panelshaving exteriorly adjacent thebase of said panels pockets for receiving the lower ends of saidtentpoles, spring means connecting the upper ends of said panels to theupper ends of said poles and biasing the lower end of said poles apartand said panels extended.

2. A tent comprising a series of .connectedpanels of sheet materialtapered in widthfrom bottom to top and forming an enclosure, a standincluding substantially straight tent poles adapted to be set up withtheir lower ends apart, upper ends of said poles converging andforminga. suspensioningrneans for supports forcpanels, aflexible means joiningthe upper ends of said poles. exteriorly of said panels, said panelshaving exteriorly adjacent the .base of said panels pockets forreceiving the lower ends of-said tent poles, spring means connecting theupper ends of said poles and biasing the lower enduof said poles apartand said panels extended.

3. Panels according to claim 2 in which at leastone pair are trapezoidalin shape and a ridge provided between the top connection of the upperends of said trapezoidal panels.

4. The invention according to claim 2 .in which the trapezoidal panelsare provided with a pleat adjacent the top for increasing the widthbetween said panels, and a spreading pole for arrangement transverse ofsaidridge pole and means to maintain said spread polein position andmaintain said pleats in spread condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS602,587 Phelps Apr. 19, 1898.

779,500 Rice Jan. 10, 1905 1,599,213 Coupal Sept. 7, 1926 2,543,684Blanchard Feb..27, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 345,623 Italy Jan. 12, 1957

